Step



'June 24, 1930. HENDERSON STEP Filed oct. 12, i928 l |\l1/\..\\|| 7 /M 4 5 e 1 W47 1 1 u T 1 E 5 v/ j l/y /6/ 5 ,y 7, f j 2\ n ,f Z5 2 E 2 A L INFJENToR Patented June 24,

Meana-1 UNITED STATES PATENT 'is-Vga;

ALBERT HENDERSON, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANA, ASS](.3rl\TOB.".LO.` HEIN'DERSO-1\l"A & HATCHER, INC., `OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF' DELA- WARE STEP

Application led October 12,1928. Serial No. 312,144..

This invention relates to Steps and is particularly useful for the manufacture of step units from cementitious material. It provides a precast step member which may be .used in concrete construction for porch steps and the like. The step member is flexible in that it may be used for steps having varying ratios of tread width and riser height. It is light in weight, strong, and economical to manufacture.

I provide a tread having an integral riser, the tread having end portions extending beyond the riser and forming the supports for the step member. In making up a vset of steps end walls are irst built up yand the step members are laid thereon. The endwise projecting portions of the treads lie over the end walls and the risers are of such width as to till the space therebetween. Each riser lies behind the tread of the next lower step, and may extend beneath the same in an amount depending on the riser height. Since the depending portion of the riser is concealed within the structure this does not detract from the appearance. It materially1 simplifies the construction, as a single step unit of standard width will take care of any stairway, regardlessof the variations In riser height. Y

Reinforcing means is preferably employed, this reinforcing extending from the projecting end portions of the tread into the riser.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the present preferred'embodiment of the invention,

Figure l is a front elevation of a step structure embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof,

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line III-III of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a front elevation of one of the step members,

Figure 5 is an end View thereof,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the step member, and f' Figure 7 is a top plan view of one of the blocks employed for making the end walls.

Figures l, 2 and 3 show a set of cement steps adjacent a building indicated generally by the letter B. rllhe steps consist of spaced' kvtread and an integral riser,

end walls built up ofy cement blocks 2 and special precast step members. Eachk step member comprises a tread 3 and a riser 4. The treads extend beyond the risers, as indicatedY at 5, and overlie the'bl'ocks 2'. The risers 4 are ofv such widthl that they just fill the space between the end walls, as is shown in Figure 1'.

l*It will be noted from Figure that each riser 4y lies' behind the rear face 6 of the tread?) for the next lower step inthe struc# ture. If it is desired'to malie'a stairway'of a differentv pitch, blocks@ ofl different height are selected, and whilein such structure the rear face 6 abuts the adjacent riser 4 the bottom face 7 of the riser mayflie in a different vertical position relative Ato the' adjacent tread.; l Reinforcing rods 8 are provided, one of which extends downwardly linto-the riser' 4. Allof the reinforcing rods extendinto the end portions 5 so as to adequately strengthen they step structure.

When the structure is setup bers are properly groutedlin so that aunitary waterproof set of steps is produced, y Y y While I-havel illustrated and describedthe preferred embodiment of my invention, itis not limited to this form but maybe ,otherwise embodied within the scope of the followingI claims.

I claim 1. A cementitious step member, comprising a tread, an integral riser, the tread extending beyond the riser, ing surface is provided under the ends of the tread and reinforcing extending from the riser intor the extended portion of the tread.

2. A step structure, comprising spaced supports,'and a cementitious step member associated therewith the step member having a the riser lying exclusively;l between the supports and the tread extending over the upper surface of the supports, whereby the entire supported by the tread.

3. A precast step structure, comprising a plurality of cementitious treads having integral risers, a riser for the'step memi whereby a supportl step member 1s one tread extendingk down below the next lower tread 1n the structure, said lower tread slidably abutting the face of the riser whereby steps of varying riser heights may be constructed without affecting the appearance of the front of the step structure. Y 4. A step structure, comprising spaced supports, and a pluralityy of cementitious treads carried thereby, the treads having integral i `risers of a length substantially equal to the distance between the supports, the treads proper extending over the supports, a riser for one tread lying behind the neXt lower tread in the structure, said lower tread abutting the face of the riser.

5. A step member, comprising a tread'having an integral riser, the tread extending beyond the riser, the extended portion being adapted for exclusively ysupporting the step member.

6. A step structure, comprising spaced supports, each of said supports including a plurality of blocks of predetermined size associated with each other in fixed relationship to form a plurality of co-acting treads and risers, and a plurality of ceinentitiousvstep members associated with said spaced supports, each of said step members having a tread and an integral riser, the riser lying exclusively between the supports and having its front face in substantially the plane of the correspondingfront faces of the risers of y the spaced supports and the tread'of the step extending over the Corresponding steps of the spaced supports, said supports supporting said stepsat the areas of Contact between the extended step treads and the support steps,

- the size of said steps having a predetermined dimensional relation withthe size of said support blocks, the relative `vertical position of said steps depending' upon the riser height of thesupports and being' adjustable Without afectingthe front ,appearance of the step structure.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ALBERT HENDERSON. 

